Arizona weekly enterprise., 1887-12-31
ARIZONA WEEKLY ENTERPRISE.
FLORENCE. DECEMBER 24, 1887
TRAINING OF CHILDREN.

How They May be Taught Habits of Heip-
 fulness and Industry.
 Children may be trained from an early age to habits of helpfulness and so save tired mothers many weary minutes and impatient words. Do not let them get into the way of thinking there is noth- ing for them to do. There is no reason why the little ones should not be ex- pected to contribute their part in making home comfortable and pleasant, instead of introducing an element of discord and disturbance by turning every thing topsy-turvy and never putting to rights again. Do not allow them to leave apple-cores and nutshells lying around, or any litter where they have been cut ting paper or doll-clothes. See that they put away books, papers, toys or sewing in the proper places when done with them. Teach them to take care of things accidentally misplaced. have seen children actually stumble over and tread upon valuable papers and en- cravings which had fallen from table rather than stoop to pick them up, just because they had not been taught to be useful in doing little things like these. They can be taught to put away hats, coats and mittens when they come in from school, to hang up their clothes at night, and not let them lie in heaps on the floor to the detri- ment of their good looks, and so as not to set the whole house in uproar the next morning by calling out, one for & lost shoe or stocking, another for jacket or trousers, while still third slams the door behind her at the last minute in a passion of sobs and tears, after search ing the house over for missing books or pencils, hat or gloves.
 All this could be prevented by firm, yet gentle training on the part of the mother, not by scolding or nagging. Let her debar the children from the privilege of playing or working with certain things because last time they were not properly cared for; let them feel their inconvenience of doing with out thing at the last minute, of miss ing pleasant visit or party because of something left undone.
 When girls grow older they can be taught to set the table neatly and com pletely, not forgetting necessary de- tails, so as to avoid the unpleasant necessity for jumping up from the table every few minutes for spoons, salt, or to replenish the sugar-boWl. They should be taught to place the requisite number of chairs around the table, and so prevent the unseemly scramble after chairs when the family are summoned to the meal.
 Boys should be trained to close the shutters, bring in coal and water, put away their clothes and not to look on while they see their mothers and sisters do these things. Indeed, have seen young gentlemen of sixteen loll on the sofa and look quite unconcernedly out of the door or window at their mother or sister chopping wood.
 Parents are clearly to blame for in- dulging children in these habits. In deed, they are not really indulgent to- ward the children; they are indulging themselves, for it is so much easier to do the work oneself than to be patient and firm with children while training them to habits of industry, patience and self-control. But, if children are so trained, they will be more self-reliant when the harder realities of life present themselves. More agreeable, too, be. cause less selfish and more inclined to lend helping hand to others. Mary EdWardS. in Philadelphia Press.